KCA DEUTAG to drill four shale-gas wells for Marathon in Poland

The T-207, KCA DEUTAG’s 1,500-hp EUROrig, is leading the company into the Polish unconventional gas market. KCA DEUTAG secured a contract with Marathon Petroleum Poland to drill four shale-gas wells starting this year.

KCA DEUTAG announced earlier this month its entry into the Polish market and unconventionals sector after securing a contract with Marathon Petroleum Poland, a subsidiary of Marathon Oil Corp. The contract is to drill four shale-gas wells with an option for seven additional wells. Operations are expected to begin in October using KCA DEUTAG’s 1,500-hp EUROrig, the T-207.

“This award marks our entry into the emerging Polish market and the European shale-gas sector,” KCA DEUTAG CEO Holger Temmen said. “The potential of unconventional oil and gas reserves in Europe is truly significant, and KCA DEUTAG are particularly well placed to address clients’ drilling requirements, both in terms of the quality of our rig assets and our in-depth understanding of the operational and legislative environment in our home European market. We are excited by this early contract award and anticipate further new rig investments to address the shale-gas market, as projects move from exploration to appraisal and hopefully full development.”

The EUROrig is fully compliant with European electrical standards and load restrictions. It has a small footprint, noise attenuation and “no spill” environmental features. “The recent sale of a EUROrig to Polish drilling contractor NAFTA Pila further demonstrates the appeal of this rig design for European projects,” Dirk Schulze, chief executive of KCA DEUTAG’s sister company BENTEC, said.